ARC BRR fast sie seh frat varers fast afk hehe fear Sarita ara, ar ett nl, aE AReeA-s10006 wots at GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ” MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Harkesh Mittal DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ‘Advisor & Head (NSTEDB) “Technology Bhavan New Mehrauli oad, New Delhi - 110016 (India) No. 4/20/2018-LAD. Dated the, 24" January 2019 To All the State Education Secretaries (Incharge of INSPIRE Award Scheme) (in name covers) Subject: INSPIRE Award Scheme — SAKURA Exchange Programme of Japan — reg. Sir/Madam, AS you are aware, Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) is a National Programme implemented by the Ministry for attraction of talent amongst students to study Science and pursue career with research. The first component viz, INSPIRE Award is implemented centrally through the States/UTs. Since the inception of the INSPIRE Award Scheme, through the efforts of both Department of Science & Technology and the respective State Governments, the scheme has attained a great deal of visibility not only at the National level, but also at the State and District levels, as is evident from the enthusiastic participation of the students in the various levels of exhibitions 2. You may also be aware that 32 students from India, from amongst the national winners of National Level Exhibition and Project Competition under Inspire Award Scheme of this Department, visited Japan during 20-26 May, 2018 under the SAKURA Exchange Programme in Science, implemented by the Govt. of Japan, Now, we are happy to share that the Government, through this SAKURA Exchange Programme in Science has proposed to the Indian Government to continue the exchange under the INSPIRE Programme to Japan during April and May, 2019 in two groups. A brief on the SAKURA Exchange Programme implemented by the Govt, of Japan is enclosed at Annexure-IA, Broad norms for selection of students are given in Annexure-IB. 3. As is evident from the broad contours of the Exchange Programme, the Japanese Government will receive High School students (students studying in classes 10, 11 & 12 during the academic year in which the programme takes place) from India, in two batches, Group A of 42 students during 21-27 April 2019 and Group B of 18 students during 26 May -1 June, 2019 e week, We are glad to share that we propose to constitute this group ion and Project Competitions held for a period of ot from amongst the winners of the National Level Exhi so far, as was done last year also. 4. It has been decided to select the winners in various categories viz. National. Appreciation awardees (5" NLEPC and 6" NLEPC) and National, Regional and State (4" NLEPC), for the Exchange Programme, who otherwise mect the eligibility criteria for this programme and are willing, and complete the pre-departure formalities within the prescribed time limits. Preference would be given to National Awardees over Regional Awardees/Appreciation Awardees (5" NLEPC and 6" NLEPC) and to Regional Awardees/ Appreciation Awardees (5"" NLEPC and 6" NLEPC) over State Awardees Subject to their fulfilling other eligibility conditions and sending requisite details, willingness and completion of pre-departure formalities within the prescribed time limA list of probable has been drawn up from your State/UT, as per details given in Annexure-IL EH may be noted that those winners who have already participated in the SAKURA programme during the year 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 will not be considered for the year 2019; hence in ‘the given annexure their names have not been included. 5. You are requested to confirm participation of the enclosed awardees for the said Programme and also to forward further details/willingness, etc. of these awardees in the proforma at Annexure-IIl A, Annexure-IIT B and Annexure- IIL C. These details, for awardees may be sent to us so as to reach us latest by 5" February, 2019 through e-mail, (Dr. Sandeep Bansal, Scientist *C’ : sandeep.bansal@nic.in, Shri. Anurag Mishra, Scientist B: anurag.dbt@nic.in ) (alongwith soft copies of photographs). Please note that even if a particular awardee has lefv/changed the school in which he/she was studying at the time of nomination/selection/participation in NLEPC, he/she can still be considered, Please also note that parents/guardian of the selected awardees would preferably be required to accompany. at their own cost, their wards up to Delhi for departure and again be present at Delhi on the date of return to receive their wards, the exact dates of which would be intimated in due course. The concemed State Nodal Officer or one State Official may accompany the students for escorting them (o Delhi for departure and back to their State/UT on arrival. The selected awardees and the concerned State Nodal Officer/ State Official would be reimbursed the expenses wards their boarding/lodging within India by their respective State Governments/ UTs, from out of INSPIRE Award funds available with them, as per the broad norms followed for INSPIRE awardees when they come to participate in the National Level Exhibition & Project Competitions at New Delhi. Accordingly, you are requested to take timely action and issue instructions to concemed officials to ensure timely submission of the proposals from your State/UT within the prescribed time limit, ic. before 5" February, 2019. Yours faithfully, AA (HK Mittal) Scientist ‘G” Head - NEB Copy to: All the State Nodal Officers (Incharge of INSPIRE Award Scheme) (in name covers)Annexure-IA A brief about the Japan-Asia Youth Exchan; e Program in Science (SAKURA Science High School Program. INSPIRE AWARDS—MANAK, is a scheme implemented centrally through the States/UTs. Under this scheme, one lakh innovative ideas, are selected from all middle and high schools of the country for an INSPIRE Award of Rs. 10000/, each for preparing a Science Project / Model. These awardees, who are students from classes 6" to 10", then participate in a three tier competition: District, State and National Level. The projects exhibited are evaluated by a jury of experts. All the 29 states and 7 UTs are participating in the scheme, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) has been implementing the ‘Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science (SAKURA Science Plan), a Program for enhancing exchange between Asia and Japan of the youth who will play a crucial role in the future field of Science and Technology through the close collaboration of industry-academia-government by facilitating short-term visits of competent Asian youth to Japan. The program aims at raising the interest of Asian Youth and thus contributing towards the promotion of Science and Technoloxy, within Asian Countries, SAKURA Science High School Program (SSHP) is a sub-program in which Asian high school students are invited by JST for about one week. Through this program the IST proposes to invite students presently studying in classes x XI & XII and are above 15 years of age from India to visit Japan. The Department has successfully completed the exchange programme in during the year 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 . DST would be bearing the expenditures related to local expenditure within India, ete, for the selected students and designated supervisors for going to Japan, while JST would cover the following costs: Overseas Airfare: round trip airfare, visa costs, and airport taxes ete, Programme Implementation Fees: ~ Accommodation fees, meal expenses, travelling costs in Japan (for students and supervisor) - Travel Insurance The JST has now invited 60 students for participation in SAKURA Science High School Program- 2019, in two batches, Group A of 42 students during 21.27 April, 2019 and Group B of 18 students during 26 May -1 June, 2019 for a period